Tue, May 30, 2023 1:54 PM
Austin, Texas (KTRK) – governor. Greg Abbott He called an immediate special session Monday night, just hours after lawmakers finished the year Ordinary legislative session Without passing several major bills that state leaders have identified as priorities.
Abbott said in a statement that the special session officially began at 9 p.m. Monday and will focus on the property tax exemption and border security.
“There are still many important provisions to pass,” Abbott said, which he stresses will require several private hearings.
Republican lawmakers have made using a large portion of the state’s budget surplus to cut property taxes for Texas homeowners and business owners a priority, but Failed to reach an agreement. It appears that lawmakers are expected to return to work on Tuesday, which is what the leaders of both chambers alluded to in closing on Monday.
“We must lower property taxes,” Abbott said in the statement. “During the regular cycle, we’ve added $17.6 billion in property tax cuts. However, the legislature has been unable to agree on how to allocate the money to achieve that goal. Texans want and need a path to eliminating property taxes. And the best way to do that is to channel tax cut dollars property to lower school property tax rates.”
In his statement, Abbott said the agenda for the first special session would focus on lowering property tax rates “only by lowering the maximum compressed tax rate in the school district in order to provide a permanent property tax exemption.”
In addition, the agenda will focus on “increasing or strengthening” penalties for offenses involving people smuggling or operating a hideout.
Previous story: What has survived and failed as the 2023 Texas legislative session closes
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